Advise on best setup to listen to music using Android Box with NAS and mobile as remote.

[lmb-s]

Hi,

I would like to ask your input for best use or applications in the following setup. With the main goal being not to have to switch on my Plasma TV just to hear music from the NAS.

The setup is:

Other HDMI input devices
|
Onkyo AV Receiver (5.1, NO LAN) ------ Panasonic Plasma TV
|
MXIII-G_TVBox_Android5.1
|
ADSL_Router ------ WIFI Mobile Devices
|
Synology DS110j NAS


1. Main goal is to listen to music stored on the NAS, via the AV Receiver, without having to turn on the TV for seeing the playlist. I want to use my mobile as a remote and to manage the playlist.
2. Second goal is just to watch movies stored on the NAS, using the Android Box as the mediaplayer, but that’s easy and already implemented.

I see two solutions at the moment:
a. Setup an app like BubbleUPnP as a server/renderer on the Android Box with automatic startup and cast/stream it from my mobile. Don’t know if that’s viable and if it will stream directly from the NAS to the Android Box, or it will need to keep the mobile running close by (MiraCast?).
b. Setup a server app like BubbleUPnP on the NAS, which should do the rendering and then control the streaming using the mobile. I have set it up already on the NAS, but still have to figure out the best setup on the other devices

It might be that option b for instance is way to much overhead for such a small NAS and there are much simpler ways?

There are so many apps and uses for/of MiraCast, ChromeCast, UPnP, DLNA, etc, that I have lost the plot. I am sure there are a lot working and working in different ways as well, but after trying a few which didn’t work, I realised I would need some help… anybody?

Thanks!

[Lurker]

@lmb-s: If I can add to your confusion, Geekbuying currently have a really good promotion on the EzCast Music Box ($19-99 normally >$35) which might be more suited to the task than the MXIII-G. Take a look at the ad to see if it will meet your requirements. The EzCast devices are designed to be controlled exclusively from cell phones and tablets which might be a big advantage in terms of usability i.e. have voice response and do not require screen etc.
http://www.geekbuying.com/item/Trons...ay-345632.html

Here is a YT video showing the device in use. I assume it should also be possible to access music from a NAS using DLNA in addition to the USB port and the phone itself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgbZM7oAPn4

The EzCast LAN Box might also be suitable. I bought a second one of these myself today!
http://www.geekbuying.com/item/Trons...er-345634.html

The EzCast devices appear to support the following music formats - ape, flac, ogg, mp3, wma, wav, rm, m4a, aac, dts, ac3, ra, aif, aiff, mka

If you want more detailed advice regarding NAS access you can post a message on their forum.

https://forum.iezvu.com/phpBB3/

I don't know how long the promotion will be running so you may need to decide quite soon if you want to purchase one.

[lmb-s]

@Lurker: it sounds like you are trying to sell me something? No offence, I have no need for more devices. I bought this box as an upgrade from previous Android boxes, because it is faster and has more ROM. It is perfect as a allround mediaplayer, I also want it for watching video, but I just would like to know the best and easiest way to control it. I reckon there are loads of other users having already tried similar setups?

Cheers!

[deesnow]

Run Kodi on android box and configur it for Nas. On mobile phone use Yatse to remote control for kodi. Kodi is the best for video/audio. It has all feature what need for a good HTPC solution, and there are tons of plugins.

Sent from Tapatalk

[lmb-s]

Thanks! Yep, I have briefly looked into those as well, and then I got hang up on BubbleUPnP, mainly because I saw a plugin for the NAS.
I will have a look a Kodi again. Will it act as a server, plucking audio and video from the NAS, while viewing it on the mobile as a 'local' playlist? Or do I go the 'streaming/casting' way, viewing playlist on the NAS from my mobile and then 'casting' it to the Android Box?

[lmb-s]

@deesnow:
Quick reply and tell you that I am very happy. I removed the bubbleupnp server on the NAS, i think it made matters worse and was overkill for my my small NAS. But I did try out BubbleUPnp on the AndroidBox as the mediaplayer. Then with BubbleUPnp on my mobile, I directed media from the NAS to the Android mediaplayer and it worked beautifully. As in, the minute it starts streaming, i can turn off my mobile (to proof a point) and it keeps playing. I tried the same with KODI as the mediaplayer and the same, perfect!.

One more question if I may; building on this, I have more of these Android Boxes around the house (even thinking of buying some of the smaller sticks, just for audio). How would I direct multiple streams, in a similar way as above, to multiple devices. Say for instance I want to play music in the bedroom with Android Box1, and listen to other music in the living room, with Android Box2, both being controlled/casted from my mobile. I quickly tried with 2 different casting apps (e.g. this BubbleUPnP and Allcast) and it seems to work, but would that be possible as well from 1 app?

Cheers!